As a parent, few things can tug at your heartstrings like seeing your little bundle of joy struggle with congestion and stuffiness. Whether it's from a common cold, allergies, or other respiratory issues, dealing with a stuffy baby can be challenging. While over-the-counter medications may not be suitable for infants, there are gentle and natural remedies that can provide relief. In this blog post, we'll explore ways to support your baby and help them breathe easy again.
Understanding Baby Stuffiness:
Babies are more susceptible to congestion than adults due to their smaller nasal passages and developing immune systems. Common causes of stuffiness in babies include:
1. Colds and Viral Infections: Just like adults, babies can catch colds and other viral infections that cause nasal congestion.
2. Allergies: Allergens such as dust, pollen, and pet dander can trigger allergic reactions in babies, leading to congestion.
3. Dry Air: Dry indoor air, especially during colder months when heating systems are running, can dry out your baby's nasal passages, causing discomfort and congestion.
4. Teething: Believe it or not, teething can also cause nasal congestion in babies due to increased saliva production.
Supportive Measures for Baby's Stuffiness:
Now that we understand some of the common causes of baby stuffiness, let's explore ways to provide support and relief for your little one:
1. Humidifier or Diffuser:
Adding moisture to the air can help relieve nasal congestion and soothe your baby's irritated nasal passages. Use a cool-mist humidifier or diffuser in your baby's room, especially at night when congestion may worsen. Make sure to clean the humidifier regularly to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria.
2. Saline Nasal Spray:
Saline nasal spray can help loosen mucus and clear your baby's nasal passages. Hold your baby on their back or upright and gently tilt their head back. Spray the saline solution into each nostril and then keep upright for a few minutes to encourage drainage. Use a nasal aspirator to gently suction out any loosened mucus if necessary.
3. Elevate Your Baby's Head:
Elevating your baby's head while they sleep can help ease congestion. You can do this by placing a folded towel or blanket under the head of the crib mattress or by using a specially designed baby wedge pillow. Ensure that your baby's head is elevated safely to avoid any risks of suffocation.
4. Steam Bath:
Create a steamy environment in your bathroom by running a hot shower with the door closed. Sit in the steamy bathroom with your baby for about 10-15 minutes, allowing the steam to help loosen mucus and clear their nasal passages. Be sure to hold your baby securely and avoid direct contact with hot water.
5. Gentle Nose Suction:
For stubborn mucus that saline drops alone can't clear, you can use a nasal aspirator to gently suction it out. Gently insert the tip into your baby's nostril to suction out the mucus. Repeat as needed, being careful not to insert it too far into your baby's nose. There are several kinds, these and these are my favorites.
6. Warm Baths:
A warm bath can help relax your baby and provide temporary relief from congestion. The steam from the warm water can also help clear their nasal passages. Let your baby splash and play in the water, but always supervise them closely to ensure their safety.
7. Stay Hydrated:
Whether your baby is breastfeeding, formula feeding, or starting on solids, ensuring they stay hydrated is essential for thinning mucus and relieving congestion. Offer plenty of breast milk, formula, or water (if your baby is old enough) throughout the day.
8. Essential Oils:
Use a cool-mist diffuser to diffuse a blend of lavender, lemon, eucalyptus radiata, and/or tea tree essential oils in your baby's room (1-2 drops each). Lavender promotes relaxation, lemon provides a fresh scent, eucalyptus radiata aids the nasal passages in breathing easy, and tea tree adds a little extra. Ensure the diffuser is safely out of your baby's reach and use a minimal amount of diluted essential oils, starting with one at a time to monitor baby's response.
9. Eucalyptus Radiata Chest Rub:
Dilute eucalyptus radiata essential oil with a carrier oil like coconut oil and gently massage it onto your baby's chest. The gentle aroma can help clear nasal congestion and promote easier breathing. Remember to perform a patch test on a small area of your baby's skin before widespread use.
10. Steam Inhalation with Lemon:
Add a drop of lemon essential oil to a bowl of hot (not boiling) water and allow your baby to inhale the steam. The refreshing scent of lemon can help clear nasal passages and provide relief. Always supervise your baby closely during steam inhalation.
11. Acupressure under the toes:
Massaging the toes is very helpful, especially when using the essential oils mentioned above. The nasal passage acupressure points are found on the bottom of the toes.
Precautions:
While essential oils can be beneficial, it's essential to use them safely, especially with young children. These two are often used with older children and adults with no issues, but infants are more sensitive. Here are some precautions to keep in mind:
-Peppermint Oil: Avoid using peppermint essential oil on or near the face of infants and young children under 2 years old, as it can potentially cause breathing difficulties.
- Eucalyptus Globulus Oil: Similarly, eucalyptus globulus essential oil should be avoided in children under 2 years old due to its high cineole content, which can be toxic if ingested or applied improperly.
VapoRub contains Eucalyptus and is not recommended for children under 2 years old.
Dealing with a stuffy baby can be stressful, but with these supportive measures, you can help alleviate their discomfort and help them breathe easy again. Remember to always monitor your baby's symptoms and consult with a pediatrician if you have any concerns, especially if the congestion persists or is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever or difficulty breathing. Wishing you and your baby a peaceful and congestion-free day!
Disclaimer: No part of this is to be taken as medical advice. Please consult your physician.
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As a mom on a journey to transform my health and life, I have come across numerous books that have profoundly impacted my well-being. These ten books encompass a diverse range of topics, including natural healing, healthy living, childbirth, and personal growth. Each book has played a significant role in shaping my perspective and empowering me to make positive changes. Join me as I share the top 10 books that have changed my life for the better.
- Hypnobirthing: the Mongan Method by Marie Mongan: Marie Mongan's Hypnobirthing method is an invaluable resource for expectant mothers seeking a calm and empowering birth experience. This book taught me more than just techniques to manage pain and anxiety during labor, leading to a more positive birthing journey. It taught me to give birth without fear, and I went on to have pain-free birth!
- Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman, MD: Joel Fuhrman's Eat to Live is a groundbreaking book that emphasizes the importance of a nutrient-dense, plant-based diet. Through this book, I learned about the power of food as medicine, and how to nourish my body with wholesome, life-giving foods. The impact on my health has been huge, helping me overcome poor immune system function.
- Desk Reference for Essential Oils by Life Science Publishers: This comprehensive guide to essential oils has become my go-to resource for natural remedies and holistic well-being. It provides detailed information on various essential oils, their benefits, and practical applications, helping me harness the therapeutic properties of nature. It has been invaluable in helping me get through acute situations as well as solving long-term health issues.
- Lucy Libido by Lucy Libido: Lucy Libido's book offers a refreshing and empowering perspective on enhancing intimacy and sexual wellness. This book helped me embrace my femininity and prioritize self-care, leading to a more fulfilling and intimate relationship. For all you moms out there, this book rocks!
- Dissolving Illusions by Suzanne Humphries and Roman Bystrianyk: Dissolving Illusions challenges conventional wisdom surrounding vaccines and infectious diseases. It provides a well-researched exploration of historical data, allowing me to make informed decisions about my family's health.
- Atomic Habits by James Clear: In Atomic Habits, James Clear shares practical strategies for building and breaking habits effectively. This book helped me develop a growth mindset and implement small but significant changes in my daily routine, resulting in long-lasting positive transformations.
- The 21 Laws of Leadership in the Bible by John Maxwell: John Maxwell's book draws wisdom from biblical principles to inspire and guide leaders. It taught me invaluable lessons about integrity, influence, and character development, encouraging me to lead with purpose and authenticity.
- Prescription for Natural Healing by James Balch and Phyllis Balch: Prescription for Natural Healing is an essential guide for natural remedies and alternative therapies. It offers comprehensive information on various health conditions and holistic approaches to healing, empowering me to take charge of my well-being.
- Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding by Ina May Gaskin: Ina May Gaskin's guide is a must-read for new mothers embarking on the breastfeeding journey. With practical advice, inspiring stories, and evidence-based information, I wish I had found this before my first child; it would have helped me immensely! This book can help you overcome challenges and establish a nurturing bond with your baby.
- Ningxia Wolfberry: The Ultimate Superfood by Gary Young, Ronald Lawrence, and Mark Schreuder: This book explores the incredible health benefits of Ningxia Wolfberries, a potent superfood. It delves into these berries' nutritional properties, antioxidants, and wellness-promoting qualities, inspiring me to incorporate them into my diet for enhanced vitality. This berry has changed my life!
These ten books have been instrumental in my personal transformation, guiding me towards a healthier, more fulfilling life. From childbirth to natural healing, personal growth to healthy living, each book has contributed to my overall well-being. I encourage you to explore these transformative works and discover the positive impact they can have on your own health journey.
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I have been searching for something that would boost their growth naturally, because many come with a hefty price tag, questionable or downright toxic ingredients, and a ton of side effects that I have seen first-hand with friends. It can be a bit scary to venture into that world and I am not about to do it! I do have good news- you can easily create your own eyelash serum with ingredients that are readily available!
Trauma is a difficult thing to heal. It can be triggered by memories, people, and even smells. When we smell something, it goes straight to our limbic system which is the emotional center of our brain. This is why certain smells can bring back memories, good and bad.
Smells can also affect our mood. Research has shown that certain essential oils can help improve our mood and make us feel more relaxed. This is because when we smell these oils, they interact with the amygdala which is the part of the brain that controls our fight or flight response.
The Fight or Flight Response
When we smell something, it goes through the olfactory bulb which is connected to the amygdala. The amygdala is responsible for our fight or flight response. This is the survival mechanism that helped our ancestors avoid being eaten by predators. Nowadays, we don't have to worry about being eaten by a tiger, but this survival mechanism is still hardwired into our brains.
The problem is that sometimes this survival mechanism gets triggered when there is no real threat. For example, if you were in a car accident, the smell of gasoline might trigger your fight or flight response even though you are not in danger. This can be very debilitating and make it hard to live a normal life.
The Link Between Smell and Memory
The link between smell and memory is due to the fact that the olfactory system—the part of the brain responsible for processing smells—is located close to the limbic system, which is responsible for emotion and memory. This proximity means that smells have a direct connection to the emotions we feel and the memories we store.
Because of this connection, certain smells can trigger a traumatic memory, which can be overwhelming and even debilitating. However, scent can also be used to heal trauma by helping to process and release those traumatic memories. When used in conjunction with other therapies, such as talk therapy, specific memory release protocols, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), scent can be a powerful tool in healing trauma.
How Essential Oils Can Help
Young Living's Feelings Kit is one way that essential oils can be used to help heal trauma. This kit includes six different essential oils—Forgiveness, Inner Child, Present Time, Release, Valor, and Harmony—which can be used individually or blended together to create a custom scent. There is also a protocol for how to use each oil for maximum benefit. I have walked through the step by step process many times and it has been vey beneficial in helping to releasepast trauma.
There are many people who have been through trauma and come out the other side. And there are many tools available to help you heal, including essential oils. If you are struggling with trauma, know that you are not alone. There are many people who have been through similar experiences and have found healing through essential oils. The Young Living Feelings Kit is one option that can help you release past trauma and move on with your life. Give it a try today! If you're interested in exploring this option further, please reach out to me and I'll be happy to chat with you about it further.
*Please consult a medical professional for severe trauma.
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The fall season is upon us, which means it's time to start thinking about how to stay well. Being well is not something that just the lucky people experience. There are reasons why certain people stay well and others do not. There are some proven things you can do to stay on top of your health, so be proactive! Here are four tips for staying well this fall season:
1. Make Good Food Choices: Eating a nutritious diet is one of the best ways to stay well during the fall months. Incorporate plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into your diet to boost your immune system and keep your body healthy. Eating the rainbow is more important than ever. Be sure to eat a big salad with the elements of a perfect salad every day. Limit or eliminate dairy, as it contributes to inflammation and mucous production. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
2. Use Supplements: Taking supplements is a great way to ensure that your body is getting the vitamins and minerals it needs to stay healthy. Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and zinc are great for boosting immunity, so be sure to take them daily during the fall months. Elderberry and Wolfberry supplements are also excellent to keep your immune system going strong. Prevention is always a great option! See my favorites list below.
3. Use Essential Oils: Essential oils can be used in a variety of ways to boost immunity and keep you feeling healthy during the fall months. You can add them to your diffuser, apply them topically, or take them internally* to keep yourself feeling well. Not only do they smell amazing, but they support your body in a variety of ways and help you stay on top of your health!
4. Be Proactive In Your Health: Lastly, remember to be proactive in your health this fall season. Regular exercise to keep your circulation and lymphatic system moving and hand-washing are both great ways to prevent getting sick. Keep moving, especially when the weather gets cooler. Taking care of yourself is so important!
There's no need to dread this season! By following these four tips—making good food choices, using supplements, using essential oils, and being proactive in your health—you can actually enjoy the beautiful crisp weather while staying well at the same time. So don't wait—implement these tips into your life today and enjoy a healthy season!
My favorite fall/winter wellness list.
*Please only take essential oils internally that are labeled as a supplement. I only use Young Living internally and with over 20 years of use - they are undeniably safe.
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Any purchase made is a blessing to my family at no extra cost to you!
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